Our Mission in Action: Making a Direct, Positive Impact

The true measure of our mission is the impact we have on people’s lives, at our retreat center and in the world.

Our mission to empower people and communities to realize their full potential through the transformative wisdom and practice of yoga.

in action:
Each year, Kripalu’s on-site programming and outreach initiatives help thousands of children, teens, and adults gain the tools they need to make long-term change in their lives and in our world.

In Stockbridge

Every year, nearly 40,000 people come to Kripalu for a transformative program, a professional training, or a few days of an R&R Retreat. They return to their lives with renewed energy, a fresh perspective, and the practical tools they need to sustain their well-being. Our guests transmit their inspiration to everyone around them, catalyzing positive change in their communities.

Many Kripalu guests don’t realize that program fees are not enough to cover the full cost of operating our retreat center—the largest retreat and program center in North America. It is only through the generous and consistent support of donors that Kripalu can continue to offer life-changing programming in a beautiful environment as we consistently upgrade our aging facility.

In the World

In the words of Swami Kripalu,
“Seekers who believe they must practice yoga only in the meditation room are under a great illusion. They must practice yoga in society as well.” As a Kripalu donor, you support programs that reach beyond our walls to bring healing and transformation to those in need—including high-school students at risk for depression and substance abuse; children in disadvantaged schools; and populations across the country and around the globe who are facing severe economic, physical, and emotional challenges. The extent of the impact we can make on individuals and society—beyond the walls of our retreat center—depends entirely on your generosity.

Teaching for Diversity: Taking the Healing Power of Yoga Where It’s Needed Most
Kripalu Yoga teacher Alex Singer traveled to the township of Memel, South Africa, in 2012, to teach yoga to girls who are at risk for sexual and physical assault, teen pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS. A Teaching for Diversity grant supported her trip. Read Alex’s first-person story.

Since its founding in 2001, TFD has allocated $300,000 to 350 yoga teachers, allowing them to bring yoga to thousands of students facing severe challenges—including seniors with Alzheimer’s, flood victims, pregnant teens, homeless women, and cancer survivors.

Kripalu Yoga in the Schools: Changing the World One Classroom at a Time
“Yoga helps me calm down, breathe, think about what I’m about to say before I say it, and not overreact.” That’s just one example of the feedback we hear from high-school and middle-school students participating in Kripalu’s Yoga in the Schools program. KYIS brings the long-range, holistic benefits of yoga and meditation to the next generation. In an ongoing Kripalu study conducted in partnership with faculty at Harvard Medical School, high-school students who practiced yoga as part of their physical-education curriculum showed a decrease in tension, anxiety, and negativity.

In order to increase yoga’s impact in the world, we need solid evidence that proves what we know experientially: Yoga works. Kripalu’s Institute for Extraordinary Living (IEL) is at the forefront of yoga research, collaborating with universities and scientists around the world. Scientific documentation of yoga’s positive effects is a giant step forward in incorporating yoga into educational, health-care, and corporate systems-helping individuals and institutions to self-regulate and increase thriving.

Scholarships
When Nyacko Perry made up her mind to change the perception that yoga is only for the privileged, the Kripalu scholarship program helped her take the next step toward that goal.
Read Nyacko’s story.

Kripalu is committed to making its services accessible to anyone seeking to enhance their life and realize their human potential, regardless of background or financial status. In 2012, Kripalu offered more than $500,000 in scholarships.

Planned giving

Read Impact

We’re always happy to hear from you. Contact us and get your questions answered.

Kripalu is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to empower people and communities to realize their full potential through the transformative wisdom and practice of yoga. Donations are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.